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The Full Story
I was born in Yangon, Burma in 1986 under a military dictatorship. As a child, I was quiet and had strong interests in art and spirituality. When I was around six years old, I had a dream in which a giant golden Buddha along with diamonds, rubies, and jades came down from the sky. The Buddha spoke one word to me: "meditate." I woke up with my eyes wide open with a thirst to meditate. So I asked my mom to teach me how to go within before she can pour a bowel of Burmese fish soup called "mohinga" at breakfast. Around the same time, my parents got me a watercolor set so I started painting a little bit here and there -- mostly of boyish interests like a soccer ball and Power Ranger action figures.
In 1997, my family and I were afforded an opportunity to relocate to California. We arrived in San Jose, CA with about 4 bags. Due to differences in cultural norms, language, etc., I was heavily bullied throughout my K to 12 journey. So I kept my head down and made a lot of art while exploring Buddhism, New Age spirituality, and pop psychology (i.e., mostly on how to make friends). I practiced meditation on and off during this period of my life.
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I graduated from high school in 2005. I flourished shortly after graduation as I was able to meet new people, make new friends, and found my community in rock climbing, art, music, and raves. I had a lot of fun exploring during this period of my life. Despite heavy partying, I practiced meditation daily, practiced Buddhism, and graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Pictorial Arts with honors.
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In 2013, I relocated to San Francisco -- about 2 years after college. During this chapter of my life, I really got into Yoga and New Age spirituality as a byproduct. I was sold on "feel-good" whitewash spirituality (i.e., positive thinking, crystals, sound baths, Tarot, etc.). I even became a "certified" Yoga teacher in 2015. While these superficial practices felt good, they were not transformative or profound in meaningful ways. I felt like something was missing, but I could not put my finger on it. Around this time, I met my lifelong partner Chris in San Francisco. However, we decided to leave the Bay Area and travel to Burma, Thailand, Nepal, and India together in 2017.
In 2018, we relocated to Los Angeles, CA. While constant sunshine felt glorious, we did not resonate with LA. The culture was a bit too superficial, and we escaped the city 3 years later.
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In 2021, Chris and I relocated to Portland, Oregon as we fell in love with the nature of Pacific North West and small city feel of Portland. Around this time, I drastically stepped away from the New Age ideology and started studying Buddhism again -- mainly Tibetan Buddhism after coming across Venerable Thubten Chodron. For the first time in my life, I felt like I found a "complete" Buddhist system - a system that combines the core teachings of Theravada, Bodhicitta of Mahayana, and Tantra. Because I was experiencing a lot of hardship in my romantic relationship at that time, I found that the antidotes taught in Tibetan Buddhism was extraordinarily helpful and transformative. I was hooked.
​​​​Tibetan Buddhism has profoundly shifted my world view, lifestyle, and my art. I realized that my training in figurative artwork better served as a tool to inspire others to meditate and get to know Buddhism. Drawing portraits and nudes felt purposeless while painting meditation figures, lotus flowers, the Buddha, and Buddhist teachers felt purposeful. I found a new way to share the Dharma with the world. Consequently, I have been making Buddhist inspired artwork and sharing the Dharma online and in real life.
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Over the past 20 years, I have listened to hundreds of Dharma talks, read many Buddhist books, and completed several retreats. I dedicate many hours a week reflecting on teachings, finding innovative ways to integrate the teachings into my life, make personal changes, and generate positive merit. It is clear to me that my life purpose is to attain Enlightenment and the Rainbow Body in order to benefit others. My art serves as a vehicle to inspire others to follow this path.
"For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remains, until then, may I too abide, to dispel the misery of the world." -- Shantideva